Friday, October 30, 2015

Friday, October 30

Choice of vocabulary study or silent reading. (King Arthur and Sir Gawain vocabulary quiz will be next Friday.)
Returned Anglo-Saxon Poetry tests; checked in around essay submissions.

Finished reading the ballad "Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford."
Discussed why Robin Hood ballads would not have been popular with the Norman Aristocracy.
Finished PowerPoint notes set on Medieval Literature and History.
Read and discussed the story "The Drawing of the Sword," from Lang's King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table. (Packets available in class.)

Students began looking for two DEJ notes on how the story showed typical elements of a Medieval Romance.


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Thursday, October 29

Introduced King Arthur and Sir Gawain vocabulary unit.  Quiz will be next Friday.
Choice of vocabulary study or silent reading.

Began PowerPoint notes set on Medieval Literature and History.
Began reading the ballad "Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford."


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.
MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Wednesday, October 28

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Brief review of how the Norman Invasion relates to the development of English.
Watched "The History of English (In Ten Minutes)."

Quick check in: what do we know about Robin Hood?


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Tuesday, October 27

Silent independent reading and reading logs will both be on Wednesday this week.
Guest teacher, Ms. Soel from Westfield State presented a lesson on the transition from Old English to Middle English with the Norman Invasion of 1066.

Students took notes, discussed how vocabulary with French and Old English roots reflects the social structures after the invasion, and inspected a reproduction of the full Bayeux Tapestry depiction of the invasion.

Students wrote a short paragraph summarizing the changes in the language as a result of the Invasion of 1066.

COLLECTED paragraphs.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Monday, October 26

Silent independent reading and reading logs will both be on Wednesday this week.

Anglo-Saxon Poetry Test, Part 2.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Friday, October 23

Silent independent reading and reading logs will both be on Wednesday this week.

Anglo-Saxon Poetry Test, Part 1.

DUE DATES

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26: Anglo-Saxon Poetry Test, Part 2.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.



MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Thursday, October 22

Short revision/independent reading session.
Groups reviewed and discussed their DEJs on "The Seafarer" (87--91).

Whole class discussion of the Focus Question, and Questions 1 and 2 on page 91:
Discussed fatalism in both Beowulf and "The Seafarer"
Discussed "The Seafarer"as an allegory, analyzing lines for what they tell us about the Anglo-Saxon attitude toward the life of a good Christian.
COLLECTED DEJs on Caedmon and "The Seafarer."

Reviewed the definition of an elegy, and listened to video performance of "The Wanderer."

HOMEWORK: For Friday: This is in preparation for a test.

Read background information on "The Wife's Lament," and put down 2--3 Post-It Notes on passages in both "The Wife's Lament" and "The Seafarer" to allow you to answer Question 3 on page 94: "The most important bond in Anglo-Saxon society was that between a lord and his retainers.  How do "The Seafarer" and "The Wife's Lament" reveal the Anglo-Saxon ideal of loyalty and the tragedy of separation or exile from one's lord?

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23: Students applying Early Decision should submit their final drafts of the college application essay via Google Docs, in order to receive last set of feedback before deadline.  (This is only for those needing early feedback!)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.








Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Wednesday, October 21

Recorded the names of those applying early decision who will be handing in final drafts THIS Friday.

Groups read the introductory materials and "The Seafarer" (87--91).
Groups discussed what the poem is about, and the Focus Question on page 87.

Individuals recorded two notes on a DEJ on "The Seafarer" and shared and discussed those notes with their group; groups gave feedback on the quality of the examples and reasoning for each student.

(I will collect these notes, with the two notes on the story of Caedmon, tomorrow after our whole-class discussion.)

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23: Students applying Early Decision should submit their final drafts of the college application essay via Google Docs, in order to receive last set of feedback before deadline.  (This is only for those needing early feedback!)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.






Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Tuesday, October 20

Reminder: final drafts of reflective essay (on Google Docs) due THIS Friday for those applying early decision; NEXT Friday for those who are not.

Finished the story of Caedmon of Whitby (85--86) and the discussed the elements of Anglo-Saxon culture to focus on in a DEJ.
Students wrote two DEJ entries on facets of Anglo-Saxon culture reflected in the story of Caedmon.

Shared observations from DEJs with the whole class; discussed how the different quotes did or did not illustrate various aspects of the culture or literature in the post-Christian era.

Played short video clip of Caedmon's Hymn with discussion of its significance.


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23: Students applying Early Decision should hand in their final drafts of the college application essay, in order to receive last set of feedback before deadline.  (This is only for those needing early feedback!)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.





Monday, October 19, 2015

Monday, October 19

Homework reminder for students out on Friday. (Paragraph was due.)
Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Returned graded rough draft essays and discussed how the Google Docs process worked for those who chose it this time.
Based on feedback from class, handing in essay and getting feedback via Google Docs will be mandatory for future drafts.

Reviewed the aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture before and after the coming of Christianity to England we are looking for in the next batch of DEJs.
Began the story of Caedmon of Whitby (84--85) with Post-it notes to transfer to DEJ for tomorrow's discussion.


DUE DATES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23: Students applying Early Decision should hand in their final drafts of the college application essay, in order to receive last set of feedback before deadline.  (This is only for those needing early feedback!)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30: Final draft college essays due via Google Docs.

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.





Friday, October 16

Homework check: paragraph in answer to question 6 on page 381.
Choice of reading/writing.
COLLECTED paragraphs.
COLLECTED rough draft essays (via Google Docs shares or hard copy).

Discussed the story of the prodigal son.

Finished PowerPoint notes set,  "The Lowly Raised Up," tracing the rise of Christianity in Anglo Saxon culture, and the importance of Christian motifs in Old English Literature.

Distributed Caedmon/Old English Elegies DEJ forms.
Read intro material on Caedmon of Whitby (83--84) and reviewed the aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture before and after the coming of Christianity to England from the head of the DEJs.


DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.



Thursday, October 15, 2015

Thursday, October 15

HOMEWORK: Read "The Parable of the Prodigal Son" from Literary Focus and Background through the parable (378--380) and write a short paragraph in answer to question 6 on page 381. 

Writers' Workshop/conferences.

 Began PowerPoint notes set,  "The Lowly Raised Up," tracing the rise of Christianity in Anglo Saxon culture, and the importance of Christian motifs in Old English Literature.


DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16: Rough drafts due for a grade.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Wednesday, October 14

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Writers' Workshop/conferences.


DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16: Rough drafts due for a grade.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Friday, October 9

Anglo Saxon vocabulary quiz.

Writers' Workshop.


DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16: Rough drafts due for a grade (this is a change).

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Thursday, October 8

Reminders: Anglo Saxon vocabulary quiz Friday!

Writers' Workshop.
Tomorrow after the vocabulary quiz will be the last day dedicated to writers' workshop, but there will be an opportunity to write during warm-up next Thursday and Friday.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7:  Epic Hero essay test.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7: Beowulf art project due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16: Rough drafts due for a grade (this is a change).


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Quiz on Anglo Saxon Vocabulary 2

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Wednesday, October 7

Reminders: Epic Hero Essay Test tomorrow; Beowulf art project due tomorrow.
Anglo Saxon vocabulary quiz Friday!

Essay test on the epic hero.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7:  Epic Hero essay test.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7: Beowulf art project due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Rough drafts due for a grade (tentatively).


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Quiz on Anglo Saxon Vocabulary 2

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Tuesday, October 6

Today's class short due to early release day schedule.

Reminders: Epic Hero Essay Test tomorrow; Beowulf art project due tomorrow.
Anglo Saxon vocabulary quiz Friday!

Distributed essay test scoring rubric, and reviewed expectations for tomorrow's test.

Writers Workshop and individual writing conferences.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7:  Epic Hero essay test.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7: Beowulf art project due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Rough drafts due for a grade (tentatively).


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Quiz on Anglo Saxon Vocabulary 2

Monday, October 5, 2015

Monday, October 5

Reminders: Epic Hero Essay Test now on Wednesday; Beowulf art project due Wednesday.
Anglo Saxon vocabulary quiz Friday!

Silent reading.
COLLECTED weekly reading logs.

Writers Workshop/writers group wrap-ups.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7:  Epic Hero essay test.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7: Beowulf art project due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Rough drafts due for a grade.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Quiz on Anglo Saxon Vocabulary 2

Friday, October 2, 2015

Friday, October 2

Epic Hero Essay Test now on Wednesday.
Beowulf art project due Wednesday.

Writers Groups met.
Students shared their drafts, with questions for their writing groups, and received feedback from other students in their groups.

Writers Workshop.
(Students who were out on college visits will have a chance to connect with their groups on Monday.)

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7:  Epic Hero essay test.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7: Beowulf art project due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Rough drafts due for a grade.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Thursday, October 1

Reminder: DEJ on the importance of the loyalty and fatalism within Anglo Saxon culture from Part 2 of Beowulf was due yesterday.
EPIC HERO ESSAY TEST ON TUESDAY!

Assigned Beowulf art project (color illustration with an appropriate quote from the poem as a caption) for WEDNESDAY.

Choice of independent reading, starting on the Beowulf art project, or work on the college essay for warm-up.

Writers Workshop.
Continued working on college application essays.
Students exchanged email addresses in order to share their current draft through Google Docs with their writing group tomorrow.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2: Rough drafts shared with small writer's groups for peer feedback.

Wednesday, September 30

This lesson, short due to club day, was taught by a sub in Ms. Bishop's absence.

COLLECTED DEJs with 2 more notes, on loyalty and fatalism within Anglo Saxon culture, taken from Part 2 of Beowulf (43--48).

Writers Workshop.
Continued working on college application essays.  Students will be sharing their current draft with their writing groups on Friday.

DUE DATES

MONDAYS: Reading logs are due.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2: Rough drafts shared with small writer's groups for peer feedback.